March 9, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Community College volleyball team fell to the unbeaten Muskegon Community College Jayhawks in four sets on Tuesday, breaking a three-game winning streak.
The Raiders won the first set 25-15, but then dropped three-straight to Muskegon, which is ranked No. 15 in the nation, 16-25, 18-25, and 20-25.
The game was the first of the season with spectators in the Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse. The Michigan Community College Athletic Association is now permitting colleges to allow up to 250 people at events with safety protocols in place, including socially distant seating, face coverings, and health screenings.
Admission is limited to two people per athlete, and spectators must be registered in advance with the Athletic Department. No one is admitted without pre-registration.
After dominating the first set with 7 aces, 12 kills and 2 blocks, the Raiders struggled early on in the second set, trailing 8-0 early on. The team clawed its way back to tie it a 11 after a combo block from Annie Holesinger and Gabi Kitley, and tied it up three more times, but never could pull ahead and lost 25-16. The Jayhawks scored the final 9 points of the set.
The teams traded the lead throughout sets three and four, but the visitors prevailed to improve to 10-0 and 8-0 in the conference. The Raiders snap a three-match win streak to fall to 3-3 on the season.
Kitley lead the Raiders with 14 kills and hit a team-best .333. Kylie Oberlin had 11 kills and 3 blocks while Holesinger finished with 8 kills, 3 aces and 4 blocks. Haley Stewart led the defense with 12 digs and also had 3 aces.
The Raiders will be back on the court on Friday, March 12 at 6:30 p.m. against Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor. In their first meeting the Raiders defeated the Red Hawks in straight sets.
All home volleyball and basketball home games will continue to be streamed through the MichiganSportsRadio.com website, including postseason games. Games will be archived on the GRCC Athletics YouTube channel.
Students, coaches and training staff participating in contact sports have been receiving weekly antigen tests, with results available in about 15 minutes, through a partnership with the Ferris College of Pharmacy. The tests are administered by Ferris faculty and students, and are planned to continue through the end of the season.